Skill Area A: Analysis

When students are asked to analyze data from a scientific investigation, they should expect to:

• use diagrams, tables, charts and graphs, and identify and explain patterns or relationships in data;
• present the results of calculations to an appropriate degree of accuracy;
• use observations, measurements or other data to draw conclusions;
• explain to what extent these conclusions support any predictions made, and enable further predictions to be made;
• use scientific knowledge and understanding to explain and interpret observations, measurements or other data, and conclusions.

A Basic Analysis will:

• (A3a) state simply what is shown by the evidence;
• (A3b) use simple diagrams, charts or graphs as a basis for explaining the evidence;
• (A3c) identify trends and patterns in the evidence.

A Good Analysis will:

• (A4a) construct and use suitable diagrams, charts, graphs (with lines of best fit, where appropriate), or use numerical methods, to process evidence for a conclusion;
• (A4b) draw a conclusion consistent with the evidence and explain it using scientific knowledge and understanding.

An Excellent Analysis will:

• (A5a) use detailed scientific knowledge and understanding to explain a valid conclusion drawn from processed evidence;
• (A5b) explain the extent to which the conclusion supports the prediction if one has been made.

Assessment and Grades
I will use the codes above to let you know what skills you have demonstrated. Seeing these codes is a good thing! If any of the codes are missing from a given level, the analysis does not yet meet the standards for that level. I will try to give you some guidance on reaching the next step; you are always free to try to move two levels at once, but this is clearly a more challenging undertaking. For the first marking period, I am happy to accept resubmitted reports with new analysis added as an addendum to the original.